Gate and reinforcement therefor



Sept. 1, 1953 B. F. TRUMBO GATE AND REINFORCEMENT THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fild Sept. 20, 1950 INVENHVHIE. wi s...

Beh bm/h F Trumbo B. F. TRUMBO Sept. 1, 1953 GATE AND REINFORCEMENT THEREFOR Filed Sept. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I vii/11114 2 0a. m w u Benjamin f. Trumbo JNVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GATE AND REINFORCEMENT THEREFOR Benjamin F. Trumbo, Uniontown, Ky. Application September 20, 1950, Serial No. 185,847

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in gates and latches therefor and more particularly to a novel swinging farm gate and latch construction.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel bracing construction for the hinged edge of the gate to reduce sagging. Another object is to provide a novel latch construction for holding the gate in a closed position and including a pivoted latch plate positioned at each side of the gate with spring means for holding the plates in the path of opening movement of the gate in either direction, and a handle for selectively releasing either of the latch plates.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wear plate at the swinging edge of the gate to ride against the latch plate during closing movement of the gate, to reinforce and prevent wear to the gate during long periods of use.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, eflicient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation showing the gate in closed position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the latch plate.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the opposite side of the latch and showing the operating handle for the latch plates.

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on a line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on a line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line I--'I of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged elevational view of the reinforcing plates for the X brace, and;

Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 99 and II0 of Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral designates the gate generally of a type commonly used as a farm gate and including horizontal slats 6 rigidly connected to each other by vertical bars I and including 2 X-braces 9 at each side of the gate adjacent its inner end and constructed of angle iron brace members.

The center of each X-brace 9 is provided with triangular reinforcing plates or webs 9*; four of said plates being placed at each side of the gate with a pair of said plates positioned with one edge abutting the opposite side edges of each angle iron brace member 9 and having their corners overlapping and secured to the brace members 9 by bolts and nuts 9 which also pass through one of the slats 6. The inner end of the gate is swingably supported on a gate post ID by upper and lower hinge pins I l on which a bushing H is journaled and which is welded or otherwise suitably secured in the closed end of a U-shaped hinge strap I I having its sides or legs I I secured in a straddling position to one of the slats 6 as well as the adjacent vertical bars I and X-braces 9. The hinge permits swinging of the gate in either direction.

The latch designated generally at I2 includes an attaching plate I3 secured to a fence post I at the free end of the gate, the ends of the plate rolled to form eyes IS" in which vertical hinge pins I6 are suitably secured for mounting a pair of pivoted latch plates l1 thereon by means of eyes I8 rolled at one end of the latch plate.

The latch plates I! are held in an inwardly inclined position in front of the attaching plate I3 and with the free edges of the latch plate spaced from each other by means of rods I9 suitably secured at one end to the inner surface of the latch plate and slidable in cross bars 20 suitably secured to post l4. Coil springs 2| are positioned on the rods I9 between the attaching plate I3 and the latch plates I! to hold the latch plates in an inclined position outwardly from the attaching plate I3 as shown more clearly in Figure 5 in the drawings. A substantially V-shaped handle 22 is pivoted in a horizontal position at its central portion to the rear of gate post M by means of a bracket 23 and pin 24, and a chain 25 or other flexible member connects each end of the handle 22 to one of the latch plates I1.

The free or outer end of the gate 5 is swingable into a position between the free edges of latch plates I! to hold the gate in its closed position and a channel shaped wear plate 2 5 is suitably secured in a vertical position to the free end of one or more of the slats B of the gate for riding against the latch plate I! to prevent wear or damage to the slats of the gate during the closing movement thereof. The opposite sides of the wear plate 26 are bevelled or tapered toward the 3 outer edge thereof to facilitate riding of the wear plate along the latch plate during closing movement of the gate.

In the operation of the device, the springs 2| normally hold the pivoted latch plates H in an outwardly inclined position in front of attaching plate 13 and with the opposed. or free edges of the latch plates spaced apart to receive wear plate 26 and the free end of gate 5 therebetween, the latch plates thus holding the gate in its closed position.

Either of the latch plates I! may be released for opening the gate by moving the adjacent end 7 of handle 22 outwardly causing chain 25 to pull latch plate I! inwardly against the tension of spring 2| to free the gate.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

plates arranged in pairs in edgewise abutting rela-.

tion with the opposite longitudinal edges of each member of the X brace, and fasteners connecting each plate to a pair of the X-brace members at opposite sides of the gate and said fasteners also passing through an adjacent slat.

BENJAMIN F. TRUMBO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 641,272 Cook Jan. 16, 1900 1,227,863 Winnego May 29, 1917 1,245,057 Stillings et a1. Oct. 30, 1917 1,250,648 Pierce Dec. 18, 1917 1,294,712 Rowe Feb. 18, 1919 1,622,235 Guarneri Mar. 22, 1927 1,811,810 Spaugh June 23, 1931 2,060,387 Wallis Nov. 10, 1936 2,497,495 Gilmore Feb. 14, 1950 

